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03 October 2017

Dick Joiner is once again presenting "Holiday Magic" with
performances in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I., and Ontario. This
is a family style variety show raising much needed funds for the
Shriners and their work for children's charities.

If you would like to attend one of the shows, please call 1-877-948-6626 for ticket availability and information.

02 October 2017

The Newest Trick in the Book is back Tuesday October 3rd, at 8:30pm, for a FREE Halloween themed show, with Benzi Train, James Alan, James Harrison, and Shamus Mac Gregor!

Last month, I attended the September 5th edition of "The Newest Trick in the Book," billed as "Toronto's ONLY magic open-mic."

I had no idea what to expect from a magic open-mic. I thought it might be a slightly more dressed up version of watching folks jam at the club or the magic shop. As it turns out I'd previously seen most of the performers on this program both jamming casually and performing professionally. Would the evening be a repeat of stuff I'd already seen?

The verdict: no. Well, sometimes yes. But not really.

Let me explain.

The event takes place at See-Scape Toronto, a sci-fi bar and gaming café. It's a cozy space filled with wonderful people. (And lots of games.)

The evening was a TONNE of fun. The performances were elevated well beyond a typical jam. Each of the performers had an energy that was different from what I expected of them. Perhaps it was the buzz of doing something in front of an audience for the first time?

It was also clear to me, that the performers were having more fun than usual too! I witnessed the child-like excitement of bringing a new idea to life, the brilliance of turning the tables on an old standard, freshening up a classic, and the general enjoyment of working things out in front of a safe crowd. (I've heard more than one professional espouse the importance of having a "safe place" to try things out in front of an audience. I better appreciate the wisdom now.)

If you're in the Toronto area, I encourage you to both attend and perform at "The Newest Trick in the Book."

Here's some amazing and exciting news for our VMC membership! This coming Sunday, October 1st at 2:30 in the afternoon we will be hosting a lecture by Genii columnist Tom Stone.

He is best known for writing a series of articles and pamphlets about original magical techniques and plots. He co-wrote a book with magician Lennart Green, contributed material to a book by Jason Alford, and has self-published a series of pamphlets as well as an e-book. He is also editor and publisher of various Swedish magic journals such as "Trollkarlen", and "Dr. Faustus Journal".

27 September 2017

Toward the end of magician Shin Lim’s “Dream Act” routine, his hands slowly rise to his head, palms up. Just as the accompanying dramatic orchestral music swells, he opens his mouth, expelling a cloud of smoke and revealing a folded playing card that had been inexplicably moving between both of his hands and his vest pocket.

Fellow magician Don Greenberg watched Lim, then 23, perform this act in July 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida, as part of a competition run by the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Greenberg had helped organize similar events for the brotherhood in the past, but this time he was there as a spectator. He and his wife, Sharon, were part of a group of more than two dozen audience members and two contest judges gathered in a Hyatt conference room to watch Lim. Greenberg had seen Lim perform in national competitions for years and had always thought he had good hands. But he was struck by this routine — Lim’s precise movements, his intensity, the crescendos of the music. It was cinematic. At the moment that Lim put his hands to his head, released the smoke, and revealed the card, Greenberg looked over at his wife. Her eyes were welling up with tears. Oh, my God, he thought, she’s crying. How the hell did that happen? You don’t expect someone to make your wife tear up with a just deck of cards.

26 September 2017

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25 September 2017

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24 September 2017

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22 September 2017

We all share a common delusion. We believe our world view is based on truth and logic - but whether you admit it or not, we all believe in something strange and unusual. ​ In this 90 min show, Nick uses story telling and illusions to explore the world of conspiracy theories, superstitions, psychics and all things STRANGE AND UNUSUAL.

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20 September 2017

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18 September 2017

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